Swimming pool filter and heater device



W? R. J SEYLER BAKM:

SWIMMING POOL FILTER AND HEATER DEVICE Filed April 15, 1968 IMVMITOR RQEQM i SW m ATTORN United States Patent 3,487,934 SWIMMENG POOL FILTER AND HEATER DEVICE Robert J. Seyler, 8 Pansmith Lane, West Islip, N.Y. 11795 Filed Apr. 15, 1968, Ser. No. 721,378 Int. Cl. B01d 11/02 US. Cl. 210-169 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device is disclosed which combines filtering and heating functions for a swimming pool and, includes a pump for forcing the swimming pool water into the top of a filter and heater unit, the water being forced downwardly past heating coils and then into a sand filter at the bottom of the filter and heater unit from whence the filtered water is passed back out through the device and back to the swimming pool.

The present invention relates to a swimming pool filter and heater device and, more particularly, to such a filter and heater device including a filter and heater unit in a single casing.

Systems are known which include devices for carrying out both the filtering and the heating of various liquids in certain environments. However, such prior art systems have, in general, involved separate devices for these functions or, alternatively, single devices carrying out both functions but which devices were relatively complex in nature. Accordingly, the need has existed, particularly for use in relatively inexpensive home swimming pools, of a single device which is capable of both heating the swimming pool water and filtering the same, which device is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and manufacture, yet which device is capable of fully and adequately carrying out its intended function.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to overcome or alleviate the deficiencies of the prior art, such as indicated above.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for the heating and filtering of liquids in a simplified and economical manner.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel combination filter and heater device for swimming pool use, which device is relatively simple and inexpensive.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for a novel and improved filter and heater unit of generally compact construction which may be easily and simply hooked up with a swimming pool system for heating and for filtering of the swimming pool water.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a heater unit for home pool use which utilizes heat from the conventional home water heater.

These and other objects in the nature and advantages of the instant invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through a device in accordance with the present invention.

A device in accordance with the present invention is shown in the drawing comprising generally a pump unit 12 and a filter and hetater unit 14, the units 12 and 14 being operatively connected by suitable pipes or conduits, described below. The filter and heater unit 14 is supported by a suitable base 16 while the pump unit 12 is supported by a base 18. In turn, each of these bases 16 and 18 may be attached to a common base 20.

The pump unit 12 is provided with an inlet pipe 22 for direct attachment to the swimming pool or for attachment to a suitable pipe at the site of the pool, for passage of water from the pool to the pump. The pump unit 12 also includes a suitable water pump 24 which may be any of the conventionally used water pumps, such as a centrifugal pump.

Passing from the exit end of the pump 24 is a first conduit 26 which leads to a three-way valve 28, such valve 28 being controlled by the valve handle 30. Such a valve 28 may be of the conventional rotary valve type. It will be understood that such a valve is not essential, but does provide additional control in the use of the combination and heater device 10 in accordance with the present invention.

Downstream from the valve 28 the first conduit 26 continues to the filter and heater unit 14 with which it is rigidly connected by a suitable joint 32. A second conduit 34, also rigidly connected to the filter and heater unit 14 at a joint 36, passes from the filter and heater unit 14 to the valve 28 and then, normally during operation, to an exit port 38 which is for connection to a suitable pipe for passage of the heated and filtered water back to the swimming pool.

The filter and heater unit 14 comprises a generally water tight casing 40, 40 which is formed of the two generally frusto-conical (or cylindrical) cut-like halves 40 and 40' which are clamped together by a suitable sealing clamp 42 between which is pinched an annular ring seal 44, and which carries an annular shield 46 on the interior thereof. The upper portion 40 of the casing is provided with an air bleeder valve 48 and a pressure relief valve 49, and the lower portion 40 is provided with a drainage valve 50. The generally cylindrical casing 40, 40' may be formed of any suitable material such as metal or fiber reinforced plastic.

The upper half 40 of the casing defines therewithin an upper portion in which most of the heating function of the device 10 is carried out. Here, the first conduit 26' passes upwardly generally axially with the upper casing half 40 and terminates near the top thereof. A suitable heat exchanger is provided in such upper portion and extending downwardly into the lower portion of the filter and heater unit 14 for heating the water passing through and out of the first conduit 26, such heat exchanger including an inlet pipe 52 from a suitable boiler (e.g. the home hot water heater), a plurality of coiled heater tubes 54 which are generally annular to the first conduit 26' and a return pipe 56. The heater tubes 54 are preferably formed of copper, a good heat conductive metal, and the inlet and outlet pipes 52 and 56, respectively, may also be formed of a metal, such as copper or plastic.

Preferably, the inlet and return pipes 52 and 56 are connected direcly with the home water heater or boiler (e.g. gas, oil or electric water heater). In this way it is not necessary to provide the home with any additional boiler or heater for the pool water, but the hot water from the home water heater or boiler may be used directly to heat the swimming pool water. Alternatively, hot air from the home furnace may be used in connection with the heat exchanger to heat the swimming pool water.

The lower portion of the filter and heater unit, defined by the casing half 40 contains a suitable filter 58, as well as the lower part of the heat exchanger. The filter merely comprises a granular filtering medium, such as sand or fine gravel. Imbedded within the sand filter, in addition to the lower part of the heat exchanger, is the terminal end of the second conduit 34 which has, preferably, at its end an inlet device 60 which may be either an additional pipe having two open ends or which may be a cylindrical port having a radially defined open- 3 ing. An air vent tube 62 extends through the lower casing half 40' and extends to the top interior of the pipe manifold 56.

While it is considered that the operation of the device will be apparent from its above description, its use will be, nevertheless, described below.

Water from a swimming pool passes through the pipe 22 to the pump 24- where it is driven through the first conduit 26, through the three-way valve 28 and then continuing through the first conduit 26' to the top part of the upper portion of the filter and heater unit 14 'where it is discharged into the upper casing 40 as shown by the arrows. Hot liquid, such as hot water, from a suitable boiler is in the meantime passed through the pipe 52 then through the heating coils 54 and then back out through the pipe 56. The arrangement of the first conduit 26 passing up through the center of the heating coils 54 results in the water being pre-warmed while still in the first conduit 26'; after such water is discharged into the upper casing half 40' from the terminal end of the first conduit 26 it then comes into direct contact with the heating coils 54 where such water is then heated as it is driven downwardly through the casing half 40 by the newly emerging water.

As the water continues to be forced downwardly into the lower portion defined by the lower casing half 40", it is forced through the sand filter 58 and then into the inlet port 60 and through the second conduit 34. After passing through the valve 28, the heated and filtered water is then passed through the port 38 to a suitable pipe for passage back to the swimming pool. When not in operation, the motor 24 may be shut off and the valve handle 30 turned to a second position so that there is no communication between portions 26 and 26 of the first conduit and so that there is also no cornmunication between the second conduit 34 and the outlet port 38.

When it is desired to clean the filter 58, the handle 30 may be turned to a third position so that the first portion 26 of the first\ conduit is in communication with the second conduit 34 and so that the second portion 26' of the first conduit is in communication with the outlet port 38, in which case the flow of water will be in the direction opposite to that shown by the arrows, such flow resulting in the cleaning of the filter. Further, because of the highly simplified construction of the present filter and heater device 10, the filter and heater unit 14 may be easily disassembled by removing the clamp 42, removing the upper casing half 40, whereby the filter 58 may be changed or any other repairs desired may be carried out. The compact nature of the device permits its installation in a relatively small space.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the present construction, such as an electrical heating device may be used in place of the heating unit shown and the device may be provided with automatic controls.

The foregoing detailed description will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention by specific example that others can, by applying current and prior art knowledge, readily adapt the invention for various applications and substitute various features from the prior art for use in connection with the generic and specific invention and, therefore, the resultant adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination filter and heater device for a swimming pool comprising a pump unit for receiving water from the pool and forcing such water therefrom under pressure;

first conduit means passing from said pump unit into which the water from the pump is forced;

a filter and heater unit for receiving water from said first conduit, said filter and heater unit comprising a generally cylindrical water tight casing having an upper portion and a lower portion, said first conduit extending through said casing wall into the interior thereof and a portion passing upwardly generally axially of said casing and terminating near the top of said casing, further comprising a tubular heat exchanger in the upper portion of said casing the tubes of which generally annularly surround the portion of said first conduit which is generally axial to said casing, and a granular filter in the lower portion of said casing; and

second conduit means passing from within said granular filter and through said casing wall.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a valve unit located along said first conduit means between said pump and said casing.

3. A device in accordance With claim 2 wherein said second conduit means passes through said valve unit, said valve unit comprising a three-way valve for alternatively restricting flow, directing flow into said filter and heater unit through said first conduit for operation, or directing back flow into said filter and heater unit through said second conduit for cleaning.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said generally cylindrical casing is formed of an upper half and a lower half releasably clamped together.

5. A device in accordance with claim .1 wherein said tubular heat exchanger is adapted to be connected to the home hot water heating means whereby hot water from the water heater passes through said heat exchanger to heat said pool water.

6. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tubular heat exchanger extends into the lower portion of said casing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,295,681 1/1967 Rubert et a1. 210169 3,363,766 1/1968 Broek et a1. 210l69 3,371,789 3/1968 Hense 210169 ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner T. W. STREULE, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. -1 19 

